Local Harvest

The harvest is upon us.  Autumn means the final collection of fruits and vegetables throughout La Rioja.   People take up the shovel and hoe and make their way to their private vegetable gardens, or prepare their shopping trolleys for a trip to their local frutería (green grocers).  Locally produced products are the first to go, with many clients willing to wait a day or two until the next arrival of fresh tomatoes or red peppers.

There is something curious about the local products of Rioja.  It isn’t only that such a large variety of food can be produced within such a small region, but the fame that each village has for its specialty.  The tiny town of Quel boasts the best plums Riena, while, at this time of year, you can’t go without some Pears from Rincón de Soto.   For winter, there is nothing better to warm you up than the red beans (caparrones) from the hillside village of Anguiano.

The specialty of each place has, over many generations, become the pride and, to some degree, a secret of the trade within these towns. Including the local festivals and celebrations of these towns normally hinge on the time of year when the first harvest begins. With these types of associations so deeply engrained in the culture of the territory, it’s easy to view the cuisine in Rioja as a glimpse into the livelihood within the smallest of Riojan villages and a way to better understand the local culture.

Photo by kopalov